Envoy’s Visit To Moscow

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20055, 29 September 1939, Page 8

Envoy’s Visit To Moscow

NEW STAGE OF DIFFICULTIES Plans Of Russia In Balkans and Baltic BERLIN AMBITIONS TO CRUSH ALLIES Creation Of New Blockade-Proof Lebensraum (Elec. Tel. Copyright.—United Tress Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 29, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times states that a well-informed Embassy official, familiar with the Kremlin view, is most positive that the visit to Moscow by the German Foreign Secretary, Herr von. Ribbcntrop, does not mark any triumph for Germany, but a new stage of gradually-developing difficulties. The correspondent states that, the first of these is Russia’s secret mobilisation, for which Germany sought an explanation in. vain. The second stage is Russia’s suspected pressure to forcC Germany to agree to an advanced Soviet demarcation line in Poland, cutting off Germany from contact with Rumania, depriving Germany of the Galician oilfiods and eventually exposing German: Poland to .Communist penetration by propaganda. The third stage is the RussianTrtrkisli negotiations, which it is believed will end with the Soviet replacing Germany as the dominant power in the Balkans. The correspondent adds it is believed that the Russian plans concerning Turkey and the Balkans were advanced before Germany was informed concerning them, upon which Germany demanded that Jlerr von Ribbcntrop be invited to Moscow before the arrangement was finalised. Similarly the Soviet’s ominous attitude towards Estonia is held to presage Ihe loss of German influence in Estonia which may become ;< Soviet protectorate. None of these diplomatic setbacks, it is considered, preclude Herr von Ribbcntrop from securing impressive paper agreements, both, for supplies from Russia and from the Balkans and for Poland’s future. Divided Spheres Of Influence. On the contrary, other well-informed circles consider Herr von Ribbcntrop’s visit as a further consolidation of Russian-German co-operation and a revelation of another stage ■of this as a preliminary to the disclosure of a full military pact, proceeds the correspondent. The German partition of eastern and south-eastern Europe is expected as a result. It is suggested that the Baltic States are likely to be divided spheres of influence, Russia receiving the major share and a Polish buffer State being established,Russia contributing part of the territory allotted to her. Germany would he allotted Hungary and most of Rumania, Russia controlling Bessarabia, Rumania’s Black Sea coast, and Bulgaria, at least: economically. The Embassy view that the visit is not a triumph is supported by the Berlin correspondent of the United Press who refers to Russia’s increasing interest in the Balkans and suggests it is engendering anxiety at the possibility qf a Russian- pan-Slavic movement. Informed quarters believe .that Herr von Ribbcntrop’s conversations cover the Soviet’s awakening interest in the Balkans which hitherto have been regarded as exclusively ail Italian and German concern. Inclusion Of Danzig Nazi Chief

The inclusion of the Danzig- Nazi leader, Herr Foorster, in the delegation is believed to indicate economic discussions, ft is pointed out. that the Polish demarcation line lias given Prussia the Vistula outlet to the Baltic.

A message from’ Copenhagen quotes a report sent by the Berlin correspondent of the Danish paper. National Tidcndcs. •He says that Wilhelmstrassc circles are talking of the creation of a blockade-proof lcberisraum with Berlin and Moscow as Ihe dominating centres, but embracing Italy and the intermediate States from the Balkans to the Baltic. The purpose of this bloc would be to blockade England and France at the appropriate time if “they did not listen to reason.” The opinion expressed in Berlin is that, the circumstances would compel Turkey and Japan to join in. The Danish paper adds: “This grandiose plan aims at reducing England and France to the status of border States, which would be forced to do What they were told when peace was forced on them. It is certain that Herr von. Ribbentrop is proposing some such project to Moscow.”